Object

Vega Nine Probe

Unmanned Starfleet probe deployed to the Beta Stromgren system; the *origin* of the data later accessed via the Vega Nine Probe Data Chip. Physically distinct from the data storage/transmission medium.

1 appearances

Purpose

Observe Beta Stromgren and detect extraterrestrial phenomena like Tin Man

Significance

Ignites plot by exposing sentient starship, forcing ethical choices amid warbird race

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

1 moments

S3E20 · Tin Man

The Race to Tin Man: Science, Secrets, and the Shadow of War

The Vega Probe is referenced briefly by Tam Elbrun as the unmanned Starfleet vessel that first detected Tin Man orbiting Beta Stromgren. Its discovery data is implied to be the foundation for the crew’s current mission, though the probe itself is not physically present in the scene. The probe’s role is symbolic—it represents Starfleet’s exploratory spirit and the serendipity of scientific discovery, but also the unintended consequences of such discoveries (e.g., the Romulan threat). Its mention sets the stage for the crew’s race against time and the Romulans to reach Tin Man first, framing the event as a collision between curiosity and conflict.

Before: Long since deployed and returned with data, its physical presence irrelevant to the current event.

After: Its legacy lives on in the crew’s mission, though its direct involvement ends with the initial detection of Tin Man.

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